Geranium plant named &#39;fisnifire&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of geranium plant named ‘Fisnifire’ particularly characterized by the combined features of brilliant, orange-red, single-type flowers, large inflorescences on, dark red peduncles; robust, dark-green foliage with strong zonation; initially fairly compact, but later medium to tall and well-branched plant habit, about medium spring flowering response; good weather resistance and well suited as a robust plant for landscaping.

GENUS AND SPECIES OF THE PLANT CLAIMED

Pelargonium zonale L'Héritier (hybrid)

VARIETY DENOMINATION

‘Fisnifire’

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of geranium,botanically known as Pelargonium zonale, and hereinafter referred to bythe cultivar name ‘Fisnifire’.

‘Fisnifire’ is a product of a planned breeding program which had theobjective of creating new zonal geranium cultivars with single-typeflowers, zoned foliage, in various colors, and generally suitable for arange of robust outdoor varieties.

‘Fisnifire’ originated from a hybridization made by the inventor,Angelika Utecht, in a controlled breeding program in Hillscheid,Germany, in 1998. The female parent was the patented variety ‘Fishelen’(U.S. Plant Pat. No. 12,727), characterized by semi-double, salmon-pinkcolored flowers, medium green foliage with strong zonation, and mediumsized plant habit. The male parent of ‘Fisnifire’ was the unpatentedplant no. 93-0266-7, characterized by having red, single-type flowers,dark green foliage and fairly vigorous growth habit.

‘Fisnifire’ was selected as one flowering plant within the progeny ofthe stated cross by Angelika Utecht in 1999 in a controlled environmentin Moncarapacho, Portugal.

The first act of asexual reproduction of ‘Fisnifire’ was accomplishedwhen vegetative cuttings were taken from the initial selection in thefall of 1999 in a controlled environment in Moncarapacho, Portugal, by,or under the supervision of, Angelika Utecht.

Horticultural examination of plants grown from cuttings of the plantinitiated in May of 2000, in Hillscheid, Germany, and continuingthereafter, has demonstrated that the combination of characteristics asherein disclosed for ‘Fisnifire’ are firmly fixed and are retainedthrough successive generations of asexual reproduction.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

‘Fisnifire’ has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions. The phenotype may vary significantly with variations inenvironment such as temperature, light intensity and day length. Thefollowing observations, measurements, and comparisons describe plantsgrown in Hillscheid, Germany, under greenhouse conditions whichapproximate those generally used in commercial practice.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe basic characteristics of ‘Fisnifire’ in combination distinguish thisgeranium as a new and distinct cultivar:

-   -   1. brilliant, orange-red, single-type flowers;    -   2. large inflorescences, and long, dark-red peduncles;    -   3. dark-green, medium to large leaves with strong zonation;    -   4. initially fairly compact, later medium to tall sized and        well-branched plant habit;    -   5. about medium spring flowering response; and    -   6. good rain resistance, robust outdoor plant.

Of the many commercial cultivars known to the present inventor, the mostsimilar in comparison to ‘Fisnifire’ are the unpatented varieties‘Fisnida’ and ‘Fispera’, and the patented variety ‘Waltz’ (U.S. PlantPat. No. 5,931).

In comparison to the orange flowered variety ‘Fisnida’, ‘Fisnifire’ hasdeeper colored, orange-red flowers, somewhat shorter peduncles, and darkgreen foliage, whereas ‘Fisnida’ has medium green leaves.

In comparison to ‘Fispera’, ‘Fisnifire’ has a roughly similar flowercolor, but ‘Fisnifire’ has longer peduncles, and taller plant habit,especially higher foliage canopy.

In comparison to ‘Waltz’, ‘Fisnifire’ has a more brilliant flower color,and less deep red peduncles.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The accompanying photographic drawing shows typical flower and foliagecharacteristics of ‘Fisnifire’ with colors being as true as possiblewith an illustration of this type. The photographic drawing shows a sideperspective view of a flowering potted plant of ‘Fisnifire’ with leaves,buds and inflorescences.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The measurements were taken in Hillscheid, Germany, in mid May, 11 weeksafter planting of rooted cuttings. The plants were growing in 14 cmpots, they had not been pinched.

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Color Chart. The color values were determinedindoors from plants growing in a green-house in May 2003 in Hillscheid,Germany.

-   Parentage:    -   -   Male parent.—Unpatented, hybrid plant no. 93-0266-7.        -   Female parent.—‘Fishelen’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 12,727).-   Classification:    -   -   Pelargonium zonale L'Héritier (hybrid).-   Propagation: Vegetative cuttings.-   Inflorescence:    -   -   Umbel.—Shape: Semi-spherical or oval. Average diameter:            113 mm. Average depth: 60 mm. Number of flowers per umbel:            About 30-50.        -   Peduncle.—Peduncle length: 138 mm. Peduncle diameter:            4-5 mm. Peduncle color: Dark red (greyish-purple group), RHS            184 A.        -   Pedicel.—Pedicel length: 33 mm in length. Pedicel diameter:            1.5-2 mm. Pedicel color: Mainly greyish-red, RHS 181 A, with            RHS 181 C — near lower end.        -   Corolla.—Average diameter: 52 mm. Depth: 10-12 mm. Form:            Single-type. Shape: Zygomorphic, with the petals hardly            overlapping. Number of petaloids: None.        -   Petals: Number of petals: 5. Shape of petals: Obovate, base            acute, upper end is truncate or rounded, margin is entire.            Size of petals: Upper petals: 28-30 mm long, 17-18 mm wide;            lower petals: 26-27 mm long, 20-21 mm wide. Color (general            tonality from a distance of three meters): Brilliant,            orange-red. Color of upper petals: Red, RHS 40 A. Markings            of upper petals: Fine dark red veins, RHS 53 B, near the            base. Color of lower petals: Red, RHS 40 A. Markings of            lower petals: None. Color of lower surface of petals: Red,            RHS 41 A (upper petals); Red, RHS 43 B (lower petals).        -   Sepals.—Color of sepals Outer surface: greyish-purple, RHS            183 A; inner surface: greyish-red, RHS 178 B. Number of            sepals: 5. Shape of sepals: Linear to lanceolate, acute tip,            truncate base, surface with very short pubescence, margin            entire. Size of sepals: 15-16 mm long, 5 mm wide for the            largest upper sepal, 3-4 mm in width for the other sepals.        -   Bud (just prior to petals unfolding).—Shape: Narrow            elliptical, asymmetric. Color of sepals: Greyish-red, RHS            178 A near the base. Color of petals: Red, RHS 43 A. Length:            19 mm. Width: 8 mm.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Androecium.—5-7 fertile anthers, moderate pollen,            orange-red, RHS 30 A, filaments reddish, RHS 40 A.        -   Gynoecium.—One pistil, style and stigma, red, RHS 44 A,            stigma 5-6-lobed stigma, orange-red, RHS N30 A.        -   Fertility/seed set.—Moderate, mainly from late summer to            fall.        -   Fruit.—Oblong, about 6 mm wide, rostrum (beak) 38-42 mm            long.        -   Seed.—Oblong, 4-5 mm long, brown (greyed-orange), RHS 177 B.        -   Spring flowering response period.—In Hillscheid, Germany, in            2003 plants had on average 0.5 flowers opened 8 weeks after            planting of rooted cuttings.        -   Outdoor flower production.—Continuously and fairly rich            flowering, the flower count in 2003 in Hillscheid, Germany,            indicated about 15-20 inflorescences per plant in late            summer.        -   Durability.—Good stability of flower color, no fading,            relatively good rain resistance, self-cleaning, therefore            requiring little care, but not too easily shattering            (dropping of petals).        -   Lastingness of the individual flower.—About 7-8 days at 18°            C., about 18 days for the umbel.        -   Fragrance.—None.-   Plant:    -   -   Foliage.—Shape: Kidney-shaped, most often not flat, but            funnel-shaped, with cordate base, with the gap between the            lowest lobes open to closed, apex rounded with weak to            medium lobes. Margin: Bicrenate. Texture: Upper surface            smooth. Size of leaf: 89 mm wide, 55 mm long. Color of upper            surface: Dark green, approximately RHS 137 A. Color of            zonation: Relatively strong brown (greyish-orange), about            RHS 166 A. Color of lower surface: Green, RHS 137 C.            Petioles: 75-95 mm long, 3.0 mm diameter, green to weakly            brown infused in parts, approximately yellow-green, RHS 143            B to greyish-red, RHS 179 B.        -   General appearance and form.—Stem color: Greyish-purple, RHS            184 B. Internode length: 10-20 mm. Branching pattern: 5-6            branches.        -   Size of plants.—Height: 11.0 cm, Spread: 26.0 cm            (11-week-old plants, as described, measured from the top of            the soil (base of the main stem) to the surface of the            foliage canopy, without inflorescences). Relatively compact            during cultivation in the greenhouse, later, outdoors,            growing fairly vigorously.

1. A new and distinct cultivar of geranium plant named ‘Fisnifire’, as described and illustrated herein. 